So, due to high demand for a good guide and insider knowledge, I feel the need to do some helper articles. This mini-series of article will be to help those new budding pokemon trainers get on their feet in Crystal Clear. It is also to help direct you to the place where you can get properly updated on the Crystal Clear happenings. In light that other sites have copied and pasted stuff from the documentation, I’d rather point you in the right direction. I’ll provide some insight and play tips, but remember that you can find all this info on your own in the docs. This series won’t be all encompassing, but will cover some more frequently searched subjects.

And again, my best recommendation though for all the information you need is to check the documentation, where all this info is available. So without further ado, I think the most pressing matter is the location of HMs.

HMs and Their Locations

HM05 Flash

So, I think it’s better to get the least useful out of the way: HM05 Flash. This HM really doesn’t have a use other than in a few caves in the game. It is only obtainable after getting one badge. You can get this from either Sprout Tower on the first floor of the Scientist hiding in the pokecenter outside Rock Tunnel on Route 10. This makes sense since it lights caves up, I guess.

HM01 Cut

HM01 is only obtainable after getting two badges. Your options are to go see the charcoal kiln or the gatehouse on the East half of Route 2 and talk to the Scientist. This badge has utility in opening up certain bonus areas to allow getting more loots. You other option is to forget about getting it and go with getting the Sword instead. The Sword is obtainable by doing a side quest in Cherrygrove Bay West of Cherrygrove City. This side quest requires no badges.

HM06 Whirlpool

This HM never changed location, but the requirements for it were altered to fit more with the premise. You have to either beat Clair as your first gym to open Dragon’s Den or have two badges to open it up. It’s really simple, but Whirlpool really only has a use around the Whirl Islands where you find a certain legendary. Also, Squirtle lives there, too.

HM02 Fly

So, Fly may be the most useful of the HMs in terms of usage in the game. It gets you from place to place really easy. It also allows going to most of the places on the map once you teach it. This one requires you to have three badges though, but is pretty simple to find. If you have played a Gen1 game in your life then you should be able to find the Kanto location on Route 16, West of Celadon. In Johto, it’s the same place as vanilla, from Chuck’s wife wandering outside Cianwood Gym. Your other option is to get Kenya from the guard in the gatehouse north of Goldenrod, and if you happen to finish that quest, you do keep Kenya. Kenya can be obtained without getting those pesky badges, after which Fly is yours to command.

HM03 Surf

So, this is one of the few HMs that have a location that requires no badges. If you go the the Safari Warden’s House in Fuschia City, to the East of the Pokecenter, it’s in the boxes. You can just go up and take one or talk to the Warden’s daughter first. Nonetheless, it’s free for the taking without any restrictions. The other location, on the other hand, requires four Badges and is in the Dance Theater in Ecruteak. You just gotta talk to the kid in there (though not the Rhyhorn guy; that guy gives you the Clear Bell).

HM04 Strength

This is our final HM with the possibility of two different requirements depending on the region. You can get it free, without restriction in the Olivine Cafe from the Sailor in the middle of the room. He just wants to help you light-weights get some meat on those bones. The Kanto location requires four badges and is obtained from the Sailor to the East as you come onto the Vermilion Docks (he’s brown).

HM07 Waterfall

This is one of our few badges that is just free for the taking. HM07 can be found in the same place in Johto on Ice Path and you don’t need any badges for it. You still need to slide on the ice, but that is about it.

Optimum Startup Pathing

So, my first pick of things to grab is the HM Surf from Fuschia. North of Cerulean there is a Fast Ferry location and you just take that to Cinnabar. The Fast Ferry terminal there connects to Fuschia; just go through the door and to the East. Then you can go back to the terminal after grabbing Surf and go to Olivine. The Fast Ferry dock is West of Olivine so you need to head East. Grab HM Strength and then make your way to Cherrygrove. Surf to the West off of the shore in Cherrygrove and head up north until you hit a cave entrance on the mountainside. I’m not covering this side quest for the Sword, but that is what you are after. Once you’re done with that you have free reign of most of the region. You can head to Goldenrod and grab Kenya for that Fly, as well.

Be sure to check out the Crystal Clear discord for more information and help and don’t forget to check the documentation.